In the most eagerly awaited encounter of Group G, England vs Belgium is likely to provide an indication of how good the Three Lions really are ahead of the knockout stages.

England vs Belgium odds

The odds indicate that Belgium are 13/8 favourites to beat England in Kaliningrad, with it 19/10 that the Three Lions finish Group G with nine points. The draw is priced up as a 2/1 shot.

England vs Belgium team news

Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out of the fixture after sustai

ning an ankle injury against Tunisia. He will be fit for the next round however.

Eric Dier meanwhile is set start after failing to make an appearance in the first two games. Raheem Sterling will be rested according to the Daily Mail.

Roberto Martinez claimed changing every outfield player for this fixture could be an option, saying: “Nobody has got a place guaranteed in this team at the moment. That’s the way we are looking at it.”

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could be set for his first appearance at this tournament after completing training on Monday.

Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, centre-back Jan Vertonghen and right-back Thomas Meunier are all one yellow card away from missing Belgium’s last-16 match so could be rested.

“It would be very risky and a real gamble to play any of the players who are on a yellow card against England, because you don’t want to have any player missing for the knockout stage,” Martinez added.

Gareth Southgate is weary himself of exerting his best players and warned Harry Kane that he will make decisions that are “right for the squad”, possibly suggesting he could rest him against Belgium.

With two goals in his last 40 England appearances and none since October 2015, Raheem Sterling is likely to be rested to see if Marcus Rashford offers a greater scoring threat alongside Harry Kane.

Rashford’s England record has been superior in recent times, although all of his three goals since his 2016 debut have come on home soil.

Those expecting a Rashford goal can back the Man Utd man at odds of 21/10 to net in the 90 minutes or 7/1 to bag the opener, as two of his three England goals have been.

Alternatively, it’s 10/1 among the match specials that the 20-year-old replicates what he did in the recent friendly with Costa Rica by scoring from outside of the box.

Another factor sure to affect the scoreline is whether Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku can convince their coaches not to rest them. Both are challenging to be tournament top goalscorer after five and four goals in their opening two outings respectively.

England vs Belgium match stats

Gareth Southgate’s men extended their unbeaten run to a confidence-inspiring 12 games against Panama last time out, all bar three of which were wins.

Danny Welbeck notched the winner in a 1-0 Wembley success in the sides’ sole post-millennium meeting back in June 2012. Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard all started on both that occasion and in Belgium’s first two Group G fixtures.

The Red Devils are even longer unbeaten than England, with 21 matches having gone by since they were bested by Spain in a September 2016 friendly and they’ve been prolific in front of goal of late.

Roberto Martinez’s side have struck at least three times in eight of their last 10 internationals, impressively putting three past a usually-defensively-stringent Mexico last November.

England vs Belgium key players to watch

The odds are that you already know Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are among the Premier League’s leading creatives.

Belgium’s real key player could end up being Dedryck Boyata. The Celtic centre-half was seldom an assured presence during spells at Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers and could be the weak link in the defence if continuing to deputise for the injured Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen.

As with Lukaku, Kane’s importance to the England cause is indisputable, as his two strikes against Tunisia and hat-trick against Panama illustrated.

However, against the Rode Duivels, the performances of Southgate’s fullbacks could prove decisive.

Not only will they play a part in helping the back three deal with Belgium’s brilliant attackers, but their own offensive exploits will be just as important in pinning back their opponents’ wide men Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Thomas Meunier.

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